Lt. Gov. Colyer: New Exchange Not Competitive Enough

Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer says a report shows that a new online health insurance marketplace set up for Kansas by the federal government isn’t competitive enough.

Colyer said Wednesday that data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services raises questions about whether many Kansans will pay high premiums for coverage through the online marketplace that’s part of the federal health care overhaul.

But Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger has said Kansans will find the coverage affordable. Enrollment for such coverage begins Tuesday.

The federal report provided data about potential costs and federal subsidies in 36 states, most with federally run marketplaces.

Kansas consumers using the state’s exchange will have an average of 37 choices for health plans. The average for the 36 states is 53.